Seat raiser and vacancy indicator



Nov. 15, 1932. P. J. M DERMOTT 1,888,136

7 SEAT RAISER AND VACANCY INDICATOR r Filed Dec. 5, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l Z7 I Z7 Zlvmntoz B JMaPermaiZ Nov. 15, 1932. J, cD -r 1,888,136

SEAT RAISER AND VACANCY INDICATOR Filed Dec. 5, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I 5z 5/ Z 53 L3 IO "---.30

BJMP/WZOZZ Patented Nov. 15, 1932 'FUNITEDSTAQTETS PATENT OFFICE A rnrnn lawman, or SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH SEAT KAISER VACANCY 'IN'DIQATOR Applieation'filed December 5, 1929. Serial No. 411,953.

This invention relates to actuating devices for pivotally mounted seats of any type particularly theater seats.

The primary object of thepresent invention is to provide an improved means for controlling a seat of the pivoted type to maintain the same in raisedlposition when unoccupied and at the same time to indicate upon alsuitable chart orindicator board the factthat 1 the seat is occupied or unoccupied.

Another'object-ofthe invention is to pro-- panying drawings forming part of this specification, with the understanding, however,

conformity with the showing of the drawings butmay be changedor modified so long as such changesor modifications mark" no ma terial departure from the salientfeatures of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawings H Figure 1 shows the device embed a the y g present invention in elevation and in applied position showing the use of the same inconnection with a theater seating diagram. Figure 2 shows the device embodying the present invention in longitudinal section 40 showing the same applied.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken upon the line,33 of Figure 2. V

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken upon the line H of Figure 2.

a portion of the deviceinthe vicinity of the switch.

Referring more particularly to the drawings wherein like numerals of reference indicate corresponding'parts throughout the sev- Jbeing effected through the action of the device raising theiseat. 1 that the invention is not confined to any strict Figure 5 is a longitudinal section through -acap eral views, Figure 1 shows diagrammatically. the manner in which the seat controlling device embodying the present invention may be used in association with a theater seat to indicate upon a chart 1 showing the seating arrangement of the theater the location of any unoccupied seat in the theater. 7

The chart shown has associated there I with one seat only, this seat being indicated generally by the. numeral 2 and the device embodying the present invention is indicated generally by the numeral 3, this device embodying as onefof the elements thereof a switch mechanism 4 hereinafter more specifically described which is connected by a suit-j able electric circuit 5 having interposed therein a battery 6, with a lamp 7 on the seat dia'gram'or' chart 1 which indicates the position of the seat 2'in the latter. The present device is designed to maintain the light? on .7 or'illuminated while the seat is being occupiedand to turn off the same as soon as the seat 'is vacated, the turning off of the light The device 3 which is directly connected to the seat bottom 8 to raise the same when it .is unoccupied, comprises an upright metallic casing 9 which is disposed beneath the seat bottom preferably adjacent the front ledge. and at one side thereof. In' order to sectionsthe same is here shown for clearness as being cast in a single unit. The bottom end of the casing may be closed if desired and the top end has removablysecured thereover 11 maintained in place by suitable bolts 12. which pass therethrough'into the edge of the underlying wall. 1

The upper end of the casing 9 is divided by a transverse partition 13 through which two spaced openings 14 and 15 are formed and extending longitudinally of the casing from the partition 13 downwardly is a cen tral dividing wall 16 which divides the casing into a weight run-way 17 and a chain run 18, the upper end of the casing providing a sprocket wheel chamber 19.

Within the chamber 19 the opposite walls thereof are provided with suitable bearing bosses 20 between which is rotatably mounted a chain sprocket wheel-21, this'wheel being as shown midway between the openings 14 and 15 in the partition 13. The back wall of the casing 9 is provided Witha longitudi-.-

nally extending slot 22 which opens outwardly into a guideway formed by a pair of longitudinally extending channeled or transversely. arcuateguide .members 23. The guides 23 arranged at opposite sides of the 510F221 and outside ofthe casing 9 as shown have their concave faces in opposed relation to receive therebetween a sliding element as hereinafter described. 4

Within the run-way 17 there is formed upon each of the opposedfaces of the front and rear walls, or. in: other words upon the "way guide ribs 24 in the manner shown.

The guide finger 27 which'travels between the? front pair of ribs 24 has attached thereto a resilient finger 28 which extends into-the sloti-nthe. manner shown so as-to engage the sw'itchlever 25 which'also extends slightly into the slot formedby the ribs 24, when the weight moves up and down in the slot.

Passing overthe sprocket. wheel 21 is a sprocket chain 29 one end of whichpasses downthrough-the opening14 to and is attached to theweight 26 while the other end passes down into the chamber 18 through the opening-15. As shown in Figure 3 each ofthe opposed edges of the openings 14 and 15 has mounted therein a roller 30 so that the passage ofthe chain through the opening will be smooth and noiseless.

Secured to the underside of the seat bottom 8 in a socket 31. formed between a pair of ball gripping clamps 32, is a ball 33 fixed to one end of a seat actuating rod 34. At-its other end this rod has a body in the form of a ball 35 attached thereto as: shown andthis ball is positioned to slide between the arcuate guide flanges 23 forming a part of the casing 9. The other end of the sprocket chain 29 is attached to the ball 35.

It will be readily seen from the foregoing that when seat 8 is swung upwardly the upper end of the rod 34 will follow the are described by the portions of the seat where it is attached, while the lower end will move vertically in a straight line and therefore the rod will swing out of the outer recess or slot 22 and assume an inclined position.

From-the foregoing description it will be readily apparent thatthe herein described device when attached to the usual pivotally mounted theater seat bottom or in any seat which is pivotally mounted, will operate smoothly as soon as. ther'seat; is vacated to swing the seat up into the usual unoccupied position. Simultaneously with this -opera= tion the switchv device associated with r the mechanism will be actuated'to indicatev upon the chart '1 the eXactlocation of the seat which is--unoccupied or which has just been vacated. v Y. While the description of this invention has been confined to use in association with theater 86313811? is of course to'b'e understood device may be-used in'rnanyother locations" where pivotally mounted-seats are'employe'd for indicating whether or 'not' the same are occupied. 1 4

Having thus described my invention, what.

I claim iSI:

1. A raising-device for pivotally mounted seats, comprising anupright l casing adapted tobe disposed beneath a seat, said casing be ing longitudinally; divided into a pair of chambers and transversely divided at its:

upperv end to provide an upper chamber, as rotatable element'within'said upper chember, a flexible element passing overthe rotatmble element and having each;- end disposed in a longitudinal.chamber;la rigid lifting mem ber connected l at one 1 end to one end of the for guiding the first mentioned: end. of the lifting member for travel in a vertical path,

and a control weight 'attached t-o th'e other end of the flexible element and disposedfin the other of thelongitudin'al chambers.="=

2; A raising "device for pivotally 'mounted seats, comprising" an upright casingadapted to be disposed beneath a seat,'said casing be--- ing longitudinally divided "into "a pair of chambers and transversely divided at itsiip per end to provide-an upper chamber, a} rotatable element within said uppe'r chamber, a

flexible element passingover the rotatable'element and having each end disposedin a longitudinal chamber, a rigid lifting member" connected at one-endto one end- 0f inane:-

iblee-lement and h'avingpivotal connection at-13o.

its other end with said seat, means for guiding the first mentioned end of the lifting member for travel in a vertical path, a control weightached to the other end of the flexible element and disposed in the other of the longitudinal chambers, guide-ways in the said other one of the longitudinal chambers, and guide fingers on said weight slidably disposed in the guide-ways.

3. In a lifting device for pivotally mounted seats, a rigid lifting bar having pivotal connection at one end with the underside of the seat, a guide-way comprising a pair of channeled members arranged with their recessed faces in opposed relation, a body upon the other end of the bar slidably positioned in said guideway, a rotatable element adjacent the upper end of the guideway means connected with the guideway at its upper end for supporting the rotatable element, a flexible element passing over the rotatable element and attached at one end to the guide controlled end of the bar, and a weight suspended from the other end of the flexible element.

4. A lifting device for pivotally mounted seats, comprising an upright casing designed to be disposed beneath a seat and having a longitudinally extending slot through the rear wall thereof, spaced arcuate guide flanges disposed on opposite sides of said slot exteriorly of the casing, a lifting bar having a ball on one end slidably disposed between said flanges and having the other end pivotally secured to the underside of the seat, a sprocket wheel pivotally mounted in the upper end of the casing, end to the ball end of said rod and passing over the wheel, and a Weight reciprocably mounted in the casing and suspended from the other end of the sprocket chain.

5. A control device for pivotally mounted seats comprising an elongated casing adapted to be disposed vertically beneath the seat and having a longitudinal slot through the rear wall thereof, arcuate guide flanges arranged upon opposite sides of the slot exteriorly of the casing with their concave faces in opposed relation, a partition transversely of the upper part of the casing forming an upper chamber therein, a longitudinally extending partition beneath the upper partition forming a pair of longitudinal chambers each having communication with the upper chamber through an opening in the upper partition, a lifting bar having one end pivotally secured to the underside of an overlying seat, a ball upon the other end of thelifting bar slidably disposed between said guide flanges, a sprocket wheel mounted in said upper chamber, a sprocket chain passing over said sprocket wheel and having its ends extending through said upper partitions into said longitudinal chambers one end of the same being attached to said ball, a weight carried upon the other end of the chain and movable in the chamber receiving the same, and anti-friction elements disposed at opposite sides of each of the openings through the first mentioned partition. I

6. A raising device for a pivotally mounted seat, comprising an elongated vertically disposed structure formed to provide a guide- Way open at its upper end and having a longitudinally extending slot in the wall thereof, a bar member having pivotal connection at one end with the under side of the seat, a ball carried at the other end of the bar and slidably positioned in said guideway, the bar upon the oscillation of the seat swinging through said slot, a rotatable member adjacent the upper end of said guideway,means connected with the guideway for supporting said rotatable member, a flexible element connected at one end with the lower end of said bar and passing over said rotatable member, and a weight member carried upon the other end of the flexible element.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

- PETER J. MQDERMOTT.

a sprocket chain secured at one 

